With the chance discovery of ruins of a temple from a construction site in Odisha's Kendrapara district, Vishwa Hindu Parishad has stepped up demand for expeditious excavation of the site.
"It should be conferred protected site status. Either Archaeological Survey of India or state archaeology department should carry out excavation work without further delay," VHP's district wing chief Banambar Sahu said here today.
The administration must stop further construction work at the said site or else the invaluable remains of temple lying underground would be lost for ever, he said.
The demand came after a government civil construction work in front of the district collectorate here had led to the chance-discovery of ruins of 17th century Hindu temple.
Workers were digging the boundary wall of planning and coordination department office building near collector's office here when their tools struck a large stone structure.
Meanwhile, the district administration has stopped the construction work after a team of experts from State Archaeology department had suggested so after an on-the-spot inspection two days ago, sources said.
